Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) training helps you standardize the system for protecting a patient\’s health information and maintaining the patient’s confidentiality. HIPAA training teaches its recipient to make appropriate use of digital technology, and it is wise to note that deliberate violations of the Act may even result in heavy fines amounting to a maximum of $250,000, revocation of licenses and even serving time in prison of up to ten years. The law by itself is a trifle complicated and specialized training will only make it simpler for you to understand its provisions, their effects and how and where to get additional advice and help. The following are the several essentials about HIPAA training which should definitely be known but generally tend to be overlooked.

– Disclosure of information by the Department of Health: You have to be aware that the DOH or Department of Health is authorized by law to use a patient\’s health care information without prior consent if the following circumstances should arise: for the patient’s treatment, to get payment, or for procedural and regular departmental operations. Additionally, the department may also ask for and disclose certain information that affects activities relating to public health; situations arising out of activities resulting from health oversight and for averting threats to public health. Knowing these exemptions is important as you will get to know where HIPAA laws don’t apply.

– Protection of patient information: If you have undergone detailed HIPAA training, you will be aware of the fact that at any cost, a patient\’s information must be kept strictly confidential as it is categorized as PHI or Protected Health Information. Even though a patient\’s PHI usually circulates within his attending doctor\’s office and health insurance company, it has to be protected from written, spoken and electronic communication. If you have access to a patient’s confidential information, a simple discussion about it with an unauthorized person constitutes a violation of HIPAA. Remember, you get to discuss or request for a patient’s information if and only if you are authorized.

– Not all HIPAA training modules are similar: Before embarking on HIPAA training, do bear in mind that not all companies having access to a patient’s health records adhere to the same business practices. Thus, HIPAA training varies in terms of content and how the health records are or should be used. Courses usually focus more on the mode of the employer per se using PHI and steps taken by him to ensure HIPAA compliance in order to minimize violations arising out of ignorance or deliberate misuse of PHI.

– HIPAA Training is not difficult: Most people undergoing HIPAA training feel that the law by itself is complicated and qualifying as a HIPAA trained expert is not easy. Some even feel that this may take years of study and research and having a law degree would probably be useful. Contrary to popular belief, however, once you identify your exact needs and choose your course accordingly, qualifying isn’t difficult and can be done online as well.

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Keywords: HIPAA,Health Insurance ,health information,medical data,HIPAA security rule